Push-button switch



July 31, 1951 c, GROSS 2,562,185 I PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH Filed March 5, 1949 Illlllllll llllil Patented July 31, 1951 UNITED STATES -ATENT OFFICE PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH Clarence D. Gross, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Application March 3, 1949, Serial No. 79,390

'1 Claim. Cl. 200159) This invention relates to a push-button switch device.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved push-button switch device which utilizes a casing of resilient material and an inherent tendency of the casing to resume normal given shape, to obviate separate movable parts usually provided in push-button switches, and at the same time reducing the switch to extremely simple form and consequently reducing the cost of manufacture to a minimum. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a push-button switch of the character described which may be installed on a wall, for example, by the simple expedient of fastening the unit in place, as by means of several screws, in cooperation with two spaced contract projections provided on said wall.

Other objects of the invention will be mamfest by the following brief description and the accompanying drawings.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the casing of a push-button switch embodying the features of the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the central portion of the switch casing shown in Figure 2, and illustrating the manner of applying a contact disc.

Figure 4 is a cross-section, corresponding to Figure 2, but illustrating a complete switch device, installed on a wall in cooperation with a pair of contact points in a bell circuit.

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 3, illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Referring particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the numeral I designates a vulcanized, semihard rubber casing, for a push-button switch, the same being formed hollow and dome-shaped from the inner edge of an integral annular flange I I, which has circumferentially spaced apertures Ila therein for reception of fastening screws (see Figure 4).

At the central inner portion of the dome part I2 is an integral inward projection I3, which extends to a point spaced from the plane of said annular flange. Received on the inner end portion of projection I3, against the resiliency of the rubber th reof, is an apertured disc ii of electroconductive material the aperture I of the disc being slightly smaller in diameter than the projection. The manner of yieldingly forcing the disc onto the projection is illustrated in full and chain-dotted lines in Figure 3.

A button I6, also integral with the casing, is provided at the central outer portion of dome part I2, in alignment with central projection I3, for operating the device in a manner to be described.

In use of the improved push-button device of Figure 3, it is mounted on a wall as by means of a plurality of screws I1, I! received through the apertures Ila in flange II, to have the disc I4 overlying the projecting heads of two screws I8 and I9 in said wall and forming contacts in an electric bell or other circuit desired to be closed at will (see Figure 4). The contacts I8 and I9 are arranged so that by manually depressing the button I6, against the inherent resiliency of the dome :part I2, engagement of the disc I 4 with both said contacts will close said electric circuit.

As soon as the button is released the casing I0 will resume normal vulcanized shape and thereby break the contact between disc I4 and contacts I8 and I9.

Figure 5 shows a modified form of the invention which is like that shown in Figure 3, except that an annular groove I3a is provided adjacent the end of the inner projection I3, for reception of the inner edge portionsof a ring I la similar to ring I 4, thereby providing means for accurately locating the ring on the projection wall as for retaining it in place.

Thus has been provided an improved push- 7 button switch which may be sold an as extremely simple unit comprising only two primarily essential parts, namely the dielectric casing and the electro-conductive disc attached thereto. The unit is easy to install for use, as described, and there are no springs or other parts to wear and get out of order. The dome-shaped casing may be utilized with other types of electrical contact means than described above.

Other modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A self-supporting one-piece push button switch for use in an electric circuit including contact means, comprising, a hollow dome-shaped casing of dielectric resilient material in the nature of vulcanized rubber, said hollow dome-shaped casin defining an annular edge portion, substantially in the plane of attachment a push button integral with said casing and projecting outwardly of the central portion thereof, an inward projection from said dome-shaped member at said cen- 2,562,186 3 4 tral portion, and a centrally-apertured disc of REFERENCES CITED electro-conductive material received over the The following references are of record m the end of said inward projection in spaced relame of this patent; tionship from said casing, said annular edge portion of said dome-shaped part having integral 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS angularly extending mounting flange means, Number Name Date said flange means being apertured for receiving 866,377 Mebold Sept. 17, 1907 screws, said end 'portion of said inward projec- FOREIGN PATENTS tion having an annular groove therein for retainingly receiving the apertured edge portion 10 Number Country Date of said dim 327,722 France Apr. 4, 1903 CLARENCE D. GROSS. France Feb. 10, 1930 

